The Madness is About Frozen Foods Not Basketball this March

I was looking at my calendar this weekend, and realized it’s going to be another crazy month at our house. March Madness has gotten underway (High School Boys Basketball Regionals started Monday which means we’ll be at basketball games 3 out of 5 nights this week), I’m a about halfway through my ½ marathon training schedule, Spring Break is just a few short weeks away, the NCAA basketball tournament starts soon, and my oldest son will be turning 5 the end of the month, so I have a birthday party to plan and prepare for as well. Then I realized it’s also National Frozen Food month!

Okay, okay maybe I didn’t really realize it was National Frozen Food month until I started researching this article a bit, but I can tell you that I have started running low on items in my freezer especially frozen vegetables. So this past weekend, I spent some time organizing my chest freezer to see what other things I need to stock up on in March. After all, it won’t be long and I’ll be sitting at T-ball games at night, and won’t want to have to think about what to make for supper. Our dinners will be all about what’s quick and easy and already in my freezer. Food that I can stick in the oven or microwave on those busy nights when we have exactly 30 minutes from when my daycare kids leave until we have to be at the ball park. I’ll also be starting to look for sales on easy frozen items too cook in the summer when I’d rather be outside playing in the backyard or swimming with my kids than grocery shopping.

Freezer “Shelf life”

While you are out stocking up on frozen foods this March, keep the following “shelf life” guidelines in mind. Remember these are just guidelines; just because that frozen dinner has been in the freezer for 6 months doesn’t mean it’s bad. I always follow the “rule” if it looks funny or it smells funny, then it probably tastes funny and finds its way to the garbage.

Bacon and sausage:1-2 months

Casseroles: 2-3 months

Egg whites, egg substitutes: 12 months

Frozen dinners: 3-4 months

Gravy, meat or poultry: 2-3 months

Hotdogs and lunchmeats: 1-2 months

Uncooked roasts: 4-12 months

Uncooked steaks, chops: 4-12 months

Uncooked ground meat: 3-4 months

Cooked meat: 2-3 months

Poultry, uncooked whole: 12 months

Poultry, uncooked parts: 9 months

Poultry, uncooked giblets: 3-4 months

Poultry, cooked: 4 months

Soups and stews: 2-3 months

Wild game, uncooked: 8-12 months

Vegetables: 12 months

Watch for Freezer Stock up Sales

So like I said before, March is National Frozen Foods month, and if you haven’t already gone through your freezer stockpile, it’s time to do that now. This way you’ll know what items you really need to look for this month. Think about how many bags of frozen veggies, chicken nuggets, or other frozen dinners you may use in the next few months and make out a list. There should be frozen food deals all over the place the next few weeks. Be on the lookout in your Sunday papers for good frozen foods coupons as well. The items on sale of course will depend on where you live, but in my area, I’ve already started to see some good deals on frozen veggies (which I never seem to have enough of). When you combine your store’s specials with coupons that you’ve gotten recently or ones that should be coming out this month, you’ll save even more on your grocery bill.

Bargain Buys

Through March 4

In addition to specials on frozen foods later this week, you’ve probably seen a lot of “Lenten” specials on fish and seafood the past week or so. Target seems to have a lot of good deals this week on other items. I hope between basketball games and working, that I have time to make a trip to Target this week! Target has gift card promos on Tide, Schick Hydro razors, select P & G items, & Value Pack diapers. There are also bargains on Up & Up foam scrubbers, Up & Up ibuprofen, Up & Up Dental floss, Welch’s jelly, Activia yogurt, Yoplait with granola, Children’s Advil, and Revlon products. Walgreens of course has some good bargains this week too. Look for bargains on Children’s Advil, Burt’s Bee Throat drops, Nabisco Belvita biscuits, Stride gum, Trident gum, Rimmel products, Edge Shave gel, & Skintimate shave gel.

About Penny Moneybags

Penny Moneybags is the coolest hippest, savviest shopper you'll ever meet. She always has the inside scoop on coupons, sales and deals. Follow her for shopping tips to help you save time and money on everything you buy!